Sat, 05 Dec 2009 4:49p.m.
By Samantha Hayes
US President Barack Obama is now saying he will attend the Copenhagen climate change talks, when it is hoped world leaders will sign an agreement.
Greenpeace, who led a march by thousands along Auckland’s Queen Street today, say they are delighted by the decision – but are still urging Prime Minister John Key to take along a better offer.
More than 3,000 people marched Queen St, to show Mr Key they are serious about climate change.
Greenpeace says getting him to Copenhagen was the easy part, and the campaign is only just gaining momentum.
“We want him to go in there with an open mind and the willingness to negotiate our target upwards, so that we end up with a 40 percent by 2020 for New Zealand” says Greenpeace Director Bunny McDiarmid.
There was good news for campaigners from the White House, when Obama announced he has changed his travel plans, and will now be in Copenhagen for the final days of the conference – when leaders are expected to sign a deal.
“I’m delighted about that,” says Mr McDiarmid.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says it is events like this that are putting pressure on governments to take action on climate change.
“Having Barack Obama at the important part of the conference at the end, I think, sends a very clear signal that the United States is serious about getting an outcome out of Copenhagen,” he says.
The protest march was followed by a free outdoor concert.
Just over 180,000 people have now added their names to the Greenpeace ‘Sign On’ campaign – Greenpeace had hoped that figure would be more like 300,000, but with this latest move by Obama, there may be a political shift their way regardless.
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